Page 22 of Falling for the Queen Mother

He didn't know why - or how the king and his people had convinced the media not to run with it just yet.

A summons to the king's office didn't surprise Nate when it came through. It also didn't surprise him to see a different gathering of officials than the small meeting a couple of days earlier.

Queen Elise wasn't anywhere to be seen. Nate thought he recognized the Press Secretary as well as a couple of older gentlemen he believed to be part of Parliament or the King's Council.

Queen Mother Alaina entered from a different direction seconds after Nate walked in. He bowed toward the king and then toward the woman who was legally his wife.

Unless those gathered had found a way around it.

This time, they did gather at the conference table.

King Frederick nodded toward one of the gentlemen Nate hadn't been able to identify.

"I am the Protocol Officer for King Frederick. We have spent the last few days searching the ancient documents and legal precedents. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any legal way to dissolve this marriage or to roll back that it ever happened in the first place. No law has been found that supersedes the one that made the marriage legal in the first place."

"As expected." Alaina spoke for both of them.

"We have been able to keep the few members of the media who are aware of the situation from publishing the story," the Press Secretary told them. "However, we've had to promise them a few more things than we would have preferred."

"Like what?" This time Nate spoke for himself.

"Like the first interview with the two of you, sooner rather than later. An exclusive photo opportunity. Those are the two big things."

"What are the smaller ones?" Nate pressed.

King Frederick answered this time. "Nothing that either of you need to be concerned with. They don't involve either of you."

“When are we doing this?" Alaina sounded as resigned as Nate felt.

"First thing in the morning. There will be a photo op and interview with them in one of the sitting rooms." The Press Secretary - Nate thought his name was Paul - handled the question again. "The palace stylists will work with both of you to make sure your clothing is coordinated."

"What exactly are we supposed to tell them? We met a a few days ago. We kissed once. Fell asleep and are now legally married but barely know each other?" Nate had no idea how exactly how this was supposed to go. There wasn't some big love story or even a long friendship.

"Not quite like that, but not too far off either," the Press Secretary told him. "We'll have an official statement to present to them prior to the filming of the interview. It will release to the general public tomorrow evening at the same time the interview begins to air."

At least it wouldn't be live. Thank God for small favors.

"Will we have a chance to approve the statement?" Once again, Alaina asked the question on Nate’s mind.

"It is being edited and will be sent to your office as soon as this meeting is finished. It is unlikely there will be any changes made to it at this point." The statement from one of the older gentlemen was delivered in a tone that told Nathaniel he didn't expect to be questioned.

Ever.

"And if one of us doesn't like the way it's written? These are our lives, you know." He could feel his blood pressure beginning to rise.

"If you have a serious, legitimate problem with it, please let me know." King Frederick didn't take quite the same hard line as the other leader. "I don't think there is much we will be able to change, though. We've left your personal details fairly vague, though it won't take long for members of the media or Internet sleuths to do their thing. We've also asked that your family be left alone."

His family.

He needed to call his kids and let them know they had a new stepfamily - and it included a king.

The mere thought made his stomach roil. He knew his children weren't opposed to him finding love again and remarrying someday, but he also knew this wouldn't be anything like they expected.

None of them had.

Nate looked at his watch. "I apologize for cutting this meeting short, but my children are spread across the globe. If I'm going to have the chance to speak with all of them before this hits the Internet, I need to get started." He pushed his chair back from the table. "Please excuse me, gentlemen." The king and Alaina were both to his left. He bowed his head. "Your Majesties."

He left the office, fully aware that he had committed a major faux pas. No one ended a meeting before the monarch was ready. The king's wife or mother might get away with it, perhaps a ranking member of Parliament or the Council, but not his accidental stepfather.